Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Augustus wrote:

CT GAMER wrote:40K isn't about "sleek" and "logical"

OK I see some of your points. But to play devils advocate explain this:


or

or possibly:

Ugly can work, I think, as in blocky or highrpofiled or angular, the distinction I want to draw is unworkable, doesn't.

For starters I like the Tau tank for the same reasons I thought the Trade Federation army looked cool...


Both the Tau and Eldar are "sleek" and distinctly "non-Imperial" looking as a way to highlight the difference between them and Imperial society as anything. IF every army looked the same and had the same asthetic style the game would be much less appealing visually imho.

The IG) is consciously a throwback army blending elements of WWI/WWII aesthetics with distinct elements of grimdark (servo skulls, tech priests, etc.). That is their visuakl/asthetic identify overall and is what defines them. IG don't have grav tanks and jump packs and sleek vehicles on purpose. the look of the Leman Russ isn't an accident nor is it's archaic design unintentionally "boxy" or ugly. It pays homage to what inspired it. Even the Valks have more in common with planes like the A-10 then to any futuristic flyer.

The Eldar are supposed to be ancient and possess knowledge and tech in advance of humans: thus their vehicles are intentionally designed to play this up and offer a counter point to the blocky "ugliness" of the Imperium.

Both armies are made more distinct and characterful by the way they are different. The iconic look and identity of each is strengthened by their difference from each other.

Again this is intentional on the part of GW.

The leman russ is typical of what gw do to real world ww1 tank designs , dumb them down a bit and stick on an oversized gun ,not that thats an all bad thing mind. i think it works as a utiliterian archaic tank design, but it has always looked a bit front or top heavy , for me , and a tad too stubby , i like the diamond shape , but think the main gun is far too big. much better to get rid of the gun and use it like the chimera . which coincidently supports a big gun with ease as snarky showed. but my preference would be for the tadpole , heres my effort at a more realistic 40k tank

There is this a well

http://www.warseer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29192&highlight=leman+russ+conversion

You could easily convert the front barrel to a leman russ level battlecannon or make it look sort of like an m1 abrams or something similar before the guy walks through setting up the front chassis sponson turret.

The Leman Russ Ugliness is nothing compared to this:


This thing is just plain stupid and ugly at the same time

Sure the Leman Russ may be ugly to you. But I believe there is beauty in ugliness.

To me the Leman Russ is Beautifully Ugly.

It is ugly, but satisfying to look at.

wow good find Orinoco, oh i like that basilisk thing very ww1 and ancient , wouldnt pay for it mind

Warboss Narznok wrote:The Leman Russ Ugliness is nothing compared to this:


This thing is just plain stupid and ugly at the same time

Sure the Leman Russ may be ugly to you. But I believe there is beauty in ugliness.

To me the Leman Russ is Beautifully Ugly.

It is ugly, but satisfying to look at.

I love the Minotaur myself. I agree - it looks ridiculous and looks like its been put together upside down and inside out. I still love it though! Plus, twin earthshaker cannons? You can never have too many earthshaker cannons.

Yes, the imperium uses tanks that are mass-produceable and are only purposed on functionality, but that is no excuse to have a poorly-designed model representing it. There's ugly that looks cool (like a land raider covered in spiky bitz), and then there's ugly that's not, as in, it comes across awkward, poorly executed, and looks like they just didn't care.

The former I actually WANT, but my starting point is the latter.

Orinoco wrote:http://www.warseer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29192&highlight=leman+russ+conversion

SilverMK2 wrote:Edit: I think this is it. I can't see any of the pictures, but I think this is the one I mean.

Thanks for the links!

These are exactly the kinds of things I was looking for.

Damn! I read all three pages while thinking "Ha! I'm going to be so smart while giving the Arnan's Russes link"...Ninja'd at the end..

Another idea that I've seen, if you prefer the "simpler but still good approach" is to just invert it. you turn the turret to the back of the hull (which is now the front), add flashlight and everything to the back of the hull (still the front now), move the turret a bit to the front (which is now the back), make the cannon a bit longer, and it becomes quite ok

I personally like the Leman Russ's ugliness, like alot of other posters there. In all honesty, I like fielding Russes more than I like fielding artillery, the Basilisk may be a fun model, but it shouldn't be anywhere NEAR the front line.

My only complaint is that the standard Russ's barrell is too wide for its length, which is why I prefer the Vanquisher cannon in all honesty...but for most design complaints I just go all Bellisario's Maxim. Don't exam it too closely. Don't think about the logical flaws with the design...it's a brutal ugly design, and that's how it's supposed to be.

I actually quite like that kind of designs...I mean...I loved the GDI Predator tanks, and the RA3 Hammer Tank, and neither of those are very sensible either, and are quite ugly...but like the Leman Russ they look like they're going to do the job you asked them to do, and then come back alive. What else can you ask from your tanks?